The Metrodome is a dump. I went and saw the Twins play the A's earlier last month and it didn't even feel like i was at a Major League game. It felt more like I was at a high school game. Then again, it could have been because I was watching the A's play the Twins.

Orlando has much the same problem...the Mayor sees a new arena as a panacea for the city's troubles, although they can't fill the one they've got; never mind the fact that the city wants to subsidise a multi-billionaire to get it built, and the city's roads and infrastructure are for crap. It's one reason I left.

EnderWiggnz:why is the government responsible for building a private stadium?

yes, because we know all the business conducted in those stadiums is tax-free, and the only people that attend the events in those stadiums are the people living closest to it. No chance of boosting the local economy by drawing in outside visitors. Nope none. Proven fact.

Sweet Jesus people, you think we could get all the bodies out of the water before we make this into the new political whipping boy. Firstly, let's address the Democrats. You deferred Infrastructure investment in this state for the last twenty five years to fund your pet educational projects. Now you reap the rewards. Republicans did very much the same by lowering taxes or not approving the reallocation of funds towards Public works. You are both to blame. Now STFU and do your freaking jobs.

/Minneapolitan//can see the bridge from my office///GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

The take off wasn't really analogous. The kids in the Onion article died because they were stupid. People dying because of a failing bridge aren't necessarily stupid, (though they probably are) but misinformed about the safety of said bridge.

But it made me remember the Onion article, so I chuckled.

frostbyt:After we buy missles and bullets we might have enough money left over to fix all these killer bridges

Ok can we please get over it now. I know the Media are having a collective orgasm over it but please. Remember when Americans had disasters like this and you could say things and not be labelled insensitive or a troll, Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour. Jesus H christ, take a leaf out of your British cousins book, just beat up a structural engineer and move on past it.

Hmm, a bridge that was inspected every year (rather than the standard every 2 years) since the early 90's and was always given a passing grade (same rating as 1-2 million other bridges in the country) every year by both federal and state inspectors and had a life expectancy for the weakest points out to 2020... sure sounds negligent to me.

/realized this country needs to spend massive bucks on infrastructure//something else went wrong with this bridge///no worse than 2 million other bridges in the US

For the record, no one in Minneapolis wanted the Twins stadium either. The only way it happened was because they insisted that there would not be a voter referendum. Politicians wanted it, the owners wanted it, corporations wanted it. Luckily, Americans are getting used to not having a voice in their government.

baorao:EnderWiggnz: why is the government responsible for building a private stadium?

yes, because we know all the business conducted in those stadiums is tax-free, and the only people that attend the events in those stadiums are the people living closest to it. No chance of boosting the local economy by drawing in outside visitors. Nope none. Proven fact.

The one constant through all the years, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again